Russia's strategy has evolved to include forming assault units primarily composed of convicts, compensating for early military failures in Ukraine.
The approach was tested at the Battle of Bakhmut, where the Wagner Group used convicts as expendables to absorb casualties.
Despite brutal tactics, this method allowed Russian regular forces to capture more territory without igniting public unrest over **mass conscription**.
With an estimated 700,000 losses, the Russian military's reliance on convicts has generated a controversial yet effective force structure.
The legacy of Wagner persists post-leadership change, giving rise to new assault units but raising questions about their overall effectiveness in various combat scenarios.
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